Meditation and Mindfulness

School Street Yoga studio believes that meditation is a critical component for overall happiness and well being. That is why we offer formal meditation trainings and a weekly sitting session for the community.

Join our Free Weekly Meditation Groups

Join our meditation circles on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings. It's a wonderful opportunity to sit together as a community. On Wednesday nights, we typically meditate for approximately 45 minutes with a sequence of sitting meditation, walking meditation, and then sitting meditation. At the end, there is a brief (10-minute) discussion about meditation, mindfulness, and cultivating a regular home practice. It is open to everyone and no prior experience is necessary. On Sunday mornings, we do a slightly shorter version of this.

Donations will be accepted to help cover expenses and to go towards scholarships for students to attend future meditation workshop

Attend a weekly meditation group

Use a Log Form

Gradual cultivation vs. perfectionistic approach. Approach with self-compassion as you cultivate a habit gradually: "Gee, let's see how many days out of 7 I can do the meditation."

Zero distress is not the goal. That is not reality. But know that over time, on average, you will gradually become happier and less reactive to various triggers. And distress will come and go more quickly when you let yourself feel it (not thinking and not necessarily acting on it).

Apps, timers, etc.

Insight Timer will track your practice and provide a sense of community. It will show you how many people are meditating world-wide with that app at any given moment. Using first names only, it will also show you who has been meditating recently in your area.

Mindfulness Meditation by Mental Workout, Inc. Started by former Buddhist priest: Stephan Bodian, M.A. Former director of training program at Los Angeles Zen Center. Author of Meditation for Dummies.

Eric describes himself as once being on a death trajectory with severe depression and chronic pain. He has been meditating since 1985 and teaches meditation to others.

Congressman Tim Ryan, author of A Mindful Nation.

Mark Williams, Ph.D.

Brief video explaining the science of mindfulness and how it helps to significantly reduce recurrence of depression: The Science of Mindfulness:

The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness

Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World

Get Some Headspace ~ Andy Puddicombe

Setting off to become a monk at the age of 22, his meditation training took him all over the world, culminating with full ordination at a Tibetan Monastery in the Himalayas. Ten years later, Andy returned to the UK with the singular wish to demystify meditation, to make it accessible, relevant and beneficial to as many people as possible. And thus the seeds of Headspace were sown.

Video

Pain is Not Suffering (7:32). Stanford Health Psychologist Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D. Dr. McGonigal explores the neuroscience finding indicating how meditators process pain differently from those who do not as well as mindfulness and suffering.

While meditation and mindfulness are not panaceas, they can be a powerful adjunct to treatment.

Strong Body - Vibrant Mind - Soft Heart

The School Street studio is welcoming and authentic, making you feel comfortable the moment you enter where you'll be greeted by the warmth of the teachers and current students. We serve Waterville, Augusta, the Belgrade Lakes region, and surrounding communities.